Departure of Radha Kunda prabhu – video and photos

(Scroll down to see photos from the cremation ceremony and a video in seven parts of Radha Kunda Prabhu in Vrindavana 2004 entitled: This is my spiritual life )

Dear maharajas and prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, our divine master and siksa guru for all of ISKCON, even the world. In 1969, at a San Francisco, U.S.A airport arrival, a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada, “Swami, how many disciples do you have?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Unlimited! Some, they admit–some do not.” At that time there were not more than two or utmost three hundred initiated disciples world wide. In this way Srila Prabhupada indicated that he is the siksa guru for all the three worlds.

It is with mixed feeling that I hear about the departure of my beloved God brother and close friend, Radha Kunda prabhu, from this world. He has gone to join Sri Sri Radha and Krishna in their nitya lila, somewhere in Gokula in some universe, but we are left without his loving friendship and association. I had heard some months back of his possibly terminal health problems, so at least the news did not come as a totally sudden shock. I first met Radha Kunda in the mid-U.S. City of Saint Luis, Missouri.

I was temple president there at that time, which would have been approximately 1972 to 1974 or so. He arrived at the temple sporting long hair, and easily could have been confused with being an ordinary hippie. Later, however, he told me that for years before becoming a devotee he had often lived an extreme ascetic life in caves, eating only green things from around the area, even the moss in the cave itself! His appearance as an ordinary hippie, therefore, was not his full story. However, he was going by the name “butterfly”, so he became “bhakta butterfly”. We did not try to force him to go by his legal name, whatever that was. He did nicely in brahmacary life, and was always an enthusiastic devotee. After some time, I sent his name in to Srila Prabhupada, recommending him for initiation. His name came back as “Radha Kunda”.

This in itself is very significant, for it surely teaches us something important about Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada had never physically met him, yet as “tri-kala jna” (one who knows the past, present and future), he could see Radha Kunda prabhu’s future attachment for the most sacred pond, and that he would frequently reside there (as recommended in the Nectar of Instruction) for long periods of time. About ten years ago, I would sometimes see Radha Kunda prabhu in California (west-coast U.S.A), where I come from. On one occasion, we were both at an all-devotee festival out in the countryside, attended by about 700 devotees from all over the state. Radha Kunda was the principle cook for all those devotees, and he was super excellent in his skill–I mean, full-on gourmet of the highest quality. He could whip out a super-tasty, exceptional (on a world scale) feast for so many devotees in les than two hours! One sunny afternoon I asked him if he would like to do a guided Vaishnava meditation (I am professionally trained and certified in guided visualization, but it is a skill I very rarely apply).

He thought it was a great idea, so we went to a quiet place next to a beautiful lake where the devotees were camped. With this type of visualization, you never know what the type of experience is going to be, as it is always unique and spontaneous. To invoke auspiciousness, I asked him to meditate on the beautiful reddish, decorated palm of the hand of Srimati Radharani, as she stands in the temples benedicting the devotees. I did not know what was going to follow next, but it came as a great shock. He saw Srimati Radharani Herself, in full, standing before him! That was certainly far more than I had expected! She was wearing an apron, indicating her appreciation for his cooking service to the devotees.

Then he reported seeing just the head of Srila Prabhupada in the corner of his vision. I asked him to bring Srila Prabhupada more into the picture, so he did, but still only his head was showing. I could not see what he was seeing, but he continued to describe his vision. Srila Prabhupada was extremely grave. He did not speak anything, but he communicated a non-verbal Narashingha guru message with thunderbolt weight. His unmistakable, very clear message was, “Don’t think that you have attained this vision by any means of your own merit! It is by my mercy alone, and do not ever foret this!”

As Radha Kunda prabhu relayed this message to me, I certainly felt struck by a thunderbolt, it was so heavy! I was very shook up, and was shook up for days afterward, as Srila Prabhupada’s message reverberated throughout my heart. That was the sum total of the experience, but those two things together–the mercy of Srimati Radharani and the powerful instruction from Srila Prabhupada, was more than enough! Over the years I did not have Radha Kunda prabhu’s association at all, until I came to India four years ago. I would then see him in Vrindavan. He showed me photos of a cave in the Himalayas where he would go to stay every year. There was a village near by, across from the mountain. He proudly showed me pictures of the villagers, also, whom he was teaching to chant. The villagers accepted him as their siksa guru, and would bring him things to eat and other gifts, just like in the days of yore. He was continuing his very austere life of penance. In these later years, Radha Kunda prabhu dived deep into hearing and chanting about the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

The very last time I saw him was at the sacred pond, Radha Kunda itself. I had gone there for darshan with the pond, and I met my old friend, Nava Yogendra Swami sitting there. I sat down next to him on the steps, and we were chatting. He asked me, “Do you know Radha Kunda prabhu?” I said, “Yes, I sent in his initiation and performed his fire jajna years ago”. In the next moment, Radha Kunda prabhu himself jumped down like a monkey from the stairs above us. Maharaj had known he was there, but I did not. It was a fun mini-pastime. I had the distinct feeling that Sri Sri Radha and Krishna were watching the fun (certainly it is their place of nitya lila), and that they got some pleasure out of it. Those who knew Radha Kunda prabhu know that he also had his “salty side”. His primary complaint in life was that he felt our society should immerse itself deeper in Hari katha.

Those friends who want to honor him the most should do exactly that, for indeed, it is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. I will certainly miss him and his pleasing, jovial nature. He was usually smiling and happy. It is hard to believe that I will never see him again.

Yet we must remember Srila Prabhupada’s words–“There will be another ISKCON in the spiritual world”. That does not mean that upon arrival we should look for the oval, white, pink and blue lotus sign that says “ISKCON devotees this way”. Rather, we must understand that we are all part of Srila Prabhupada’s eternal group, and are eternally under his direction, though our bodies and rasa in Vraja will be most perfect. May we all follow in the footsteps of Radha Kunda prabhu, and be personally taken Home by Srila Prabhupada and by Srimati Radharani herself.

Your eternal servant, Makhanlal das

The following photos were put together by Subhangi dd and Sahadev Prabhu, good friends of Radha Kunda das for the pleasure of the devotees world wide. Click on them to get the full size picture.

3 Responses to “Departure of Radha Kunda prabhu – video and photos”

The following was spoken to Baladev Prabhu by Mahanidhi Swami immediately after the depature of Radha Kunda Prabhu in Sri Vrindaban Dham on the 13th April ’07 at
7.52pm……

Sriman Radha Kunda Das left his body in a most auspicious way. In Sri Krishna’s holy land of Vrindavan. This month, Vaishaka month celebrates the appearance days of Lord Nsringadeva, Gadahara Pundit, Srimati Rukmini Devi, Srimati Sita Devi, and the Deity of Radha Raman Ji. Many great Vaishnavas appeared during this month including Madhavendra Puri, Srinivas Acharya and Shyamananda Prabhu.

The sun planet is traveling in the Northern hemisphere, Utterayana, which is the best
period to leave ones body. Today is Varuthini Ekadasi, Vaisaka Krishna Paksha. The
day was also the disappearance day of Vrindavan Das Thakur. Radha Kunda left his
body at 7:52pm during a period called Sarv Artha Siddhi Yoga, which guarantees
perfection in all of ones desired objectives.

The ruling star of the day is Danistha, which is a name of Sri Radha- Sakhi. At 7:52pm, when Radha Kunda Prabhu left his body, in the spiritual world the Shakhis are letting Krishna into Sanket Kunja where Radha will meet him later for Their evening pastimes, at this time. Danistha Sakhi brings the remnants of Krishnas evening meal to Yavat and offers them to Sri Radha and Her Shakhis. It appears that Radha Kunda Prabhu left the world at this time to serve Priya Priyatam in Their confidential Pastimes in Braja Gokula-just as he used to always sing about-“Nikunja Mere Viraje Gana Shyama Radhe Radhe.”

We at Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. have just received work that Radha Kunda Prabhu has left
this world on the auspicous day of Vrndavan das Thakur’s disappearance, April 12,
2007. The following is an exerpt from an email received by Vaisnavas C.A.R.E.

Your servants at Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. www.vaisnavascare.com

On Thursday April 12, 2007 at 8pm on the auspicious day of Vrndavan das Thakur’s disappearance his grace Radha Kunda Prabhu left his body in the holy dham of
Vrndavana. He passed away very peacefully with a tape of Srila Prabhupada chanting.

Five devotees were also present in the room and were chanting as well. Before he passed away Tulsi leaves were placed in his mouth along with drops of Radha Kund and Shyam Kunda water. Radha Kunda Prabhu then took two deep breaths and left his body peacefully without any agitation. Cremation will take place today his ashes will be placed in the waters of Radha kunda and Shyam kunda as per the wishes of Radha Kunda Prabhu.

We pray that he remains forever at Srila Prabhupada’s feet.

Jusaniya devi dasi

Editor’s note:At four o’clock the body of Radha Kunda Prabhu was taken for a visit to Krishna Balarama Mandir and then to the cremation spot on the Yamuna.

The flames immediately went very high and Radhakunda Prabhu’s relation with that body was over forever.

He is a blessed soul who leaves the body in Vrindavana, his body cremated at the Yamuna and his ashes dispersed in the waters of the holy river.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

I had long discussions with him on different aspects of Krishna Consciousness. He was always blissful. Most of the times I would not understand his words. But I would just listen.

In 2004 when we were going to Mayapur Yatra, he was in my bus from Howrah Railway station to Mayapur. I sang the Bhajan ‘Yashomati Nandan …..’, he greatly appreciated it. Then someone from the bus sang Narsimha to invoke protection from the Lord.

He immediately corrected that devotee and told him, Hare Krishna Mahamantra offers all protection. Such was his faith the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. I was very very impressed. I knew that he understood all the purports of the Mahamantra.

Also one more aspect of his Krishna Consciousness that was very very inspirational to me was: He used to chant Krishna’s name before every morsel of Prasadam. He would chant Govinda and then take one morsel then Madhava and then take another morsel…. and so on until he finished his entire meal.

I was so impressed that I followed it myself for sometime during Mayapur Yatra….

I will miss him very much…

All glories to Krishna and His devotees. All glories to Srila Prabhupada for creating such an amazing society of devotees